Jackson County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Jackson County, Minnesota had an estimated 9,861 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 9,988, across 703 square miles. County output reached $881.0 m in 2024, 304 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 7 7(a) approvals worth $2.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jackson County
How many people live in Jackson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20249,933
- Households4,387
- Average household size2.26
- Median household income$75,743
- Median age44.5
- Median gross rent$787 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$157,100
- Home value to household income2.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher26.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over7,126
- Population under 182,163
- Share under 1821.8 percent
- Population 65 and over2,323
- Share 65 and over23.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 645,447
- Civilian labor force5,288
- Unemployment rate2.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.1 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties67th of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2486th of 3,222
Jackson County is the 67th largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 2.1 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.4 percent against 21.8 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jackson County
Is Jackson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20249,861
- Census 2020 base population9,988
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.27 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-43
- Births, 202479
- Deaths, 2024113
- Natural change, 2024-34
- Net domestic migration, 2024-30
- Net international migration, 202421
- Total net migration, 2024-9
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-96
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2281st of 3,144
The county has lost 1.27 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jackson County
Where are people moving to Jackson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving213
- People arriving, from those returns371
- Tax returns filed by households leaving238
- Net household movement-25
- Adjusted gross income arriving$11.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-823,000
- Average income of an arriving household$51,859
- Average income of a leaving household$49,870
- Largest single originNobles County (32 households)
- Largest single destinationCottonwood County (22 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nobles County | 32 | 61 | $1.7 m |
| Cottonwood County | 26 | 50 | $1.6 m |
Households arriving report $1,989 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Nobles County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Jackson County
What is the Jackson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$881.0 m
- County GDP, 2023$801.9 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20249.9 percent
- GDP change over five years35.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes56th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1949th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$88,693
Output grew 9.9 percent in the latest year and 35.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Jackson County
Employment by industry in Jackson County
- Covered employment, annual average5,021
- Establishments reporting366
- Average annual pay$51,882
- Average weekly wage$998
- Manufacturing, employment1,549
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$70,442
- Wholesale trade, employment252
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$71,658
- Accommodation and food services, employment250
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$13,870
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment224
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, average annual pay$56,389
- Retail trade, employment220
- Construction, employment110
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,549 | 17 | $70,442 |
| Wholesale trade | 252 | 22 | $71,658 |
| Accommodation and food services | 250 | 22 | $13,870 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 224 | 25 | $56,389 |
| Retail trade | 220 | 34 | $29,871 |
| Construction | 110 | 42 | $53,363 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 88 | 16 | $72,406 |
| Other services, except public administration | 74 | 32 | $26,748 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,549 jobs, 30.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jackson County
How many businesses are in Jackson County?
- Establishments, all industries304
- Employment at those establishments3,953
- Annual payroll$212.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents30.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Jackson County
Building permits in Jackson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202451
- Declared construction value permitted$9.5 m
- Single family units authorized8
- Multifamily units authorized43
- Multifamily share of units84.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$187,072
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.6
Multifamily is 84.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Jackson County
SBA loans in Jackson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded7
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$2.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$375,071
- Median 7(a) approval$460,500
- Largest single approval$760,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)64
- Jobs per approval9.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active4
- Distinct industries receiving approvals5
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer42.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter4
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals42.9 percent
- Most active lenderBank Midwest (3)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.5 m
- Average 504 approval$700,000
- Median 504 approval$672,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval7.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.0
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$6.1 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jackson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jackson County
Do SBA loans in Jackson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure3
Only 3 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jackson County
SBA lending by place in Jackson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Jackson, approvals5
- Bingham Lake, approvals1
- Heron Lake, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | 5 | $2,110,500 |
| Bingham Lake | 1 | $500,000 |
| Heron Lake | 1 | $15,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jackson County
How large is Jackson County?
- Land area703 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties43rd of 87
- Width, east to west30.1 mi
- Height, north to south24 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land14
- Establishments per square mile0.43
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Jackson County
Flood risk in Jackson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Jackson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270632
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Jackson County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Jackson County (community 270632), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Jackson County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 75.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Jackson County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Jackson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20249,933
- Households4,387
- Average household size2.26
- Median household income$75,743
- Median age44.5
Common questions
Jackson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jackson County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 9,861 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 9,933, in 4,387 households, ranking 67th of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jackson County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.27 percent since the 2020 census base of 9,988, to 9,861 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 79 births against 113 deaths, with net migration of -9. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jackson County?
$75,743. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $157,100, which is 2.1 times income, and median gross rent is $787 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jackson County?
304 establishments, employing 3,953 people with an annual payroll of $212.0 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Jackson County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,549 jobs, 30.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,021 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,882, or $998 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jackson County?
7 7(a) approvals totaling $2.6 m since FY2020, across 4 lenders, with a median approval of $460,500, plus 5 504 approvals worth $3.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Jackson County?
51 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $9.5 m. Multifamily was 84.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jackson County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Jackson County come from?
The largest single origin is Nobles County, with 32 households. Arriving households report an average income of $51,859 against $49,870 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jackson County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Jackson County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Jackson County
Cities and places in Jackson.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jackson County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | city | 3,287 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakefield | city | 1,507 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Heron Lake | city | 593 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Okabena | city | 210 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Alpha | city | 114 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fish Lake | CDP | 93 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wilder | city | 32 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 7 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Jackson County, the largest being Bingham Lake (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.